Congress

Today, Western Montana Congressman Ryan Zinke announced the allocation of almost $11 million in funding for transportation projects in Glacier, Flathead, Lake and Missoula Counties. The funding is distributed from the U.S. Department of Transportation via the Safe Streets for All program (DOT SS4A). “Safety and security should always be the top concerns of elected officials whether it’s national security from foreign threats or the safety of our streets right here at home. I applaud the local leadership for recognizing the both the need and funding opportunity to improve safety within our own communities,” said Congressman Zinke. “I’m eager to get to work as a member of the House Appropriations subcommittee on Transportation and Housing to ensure Montana’s projects are not overseen and that our district’s unique needs and priorities are met.”

Today, Western Montana Congressman Ryan Zinke announced more than $2 million in federal grant funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to the Lincoln County Community Health Center headquartered in Libby, Montana, which serves more than 7,500 unduplicated annual patients. The funding is distributed through the H80 - Health Center Cluster program and will aid the nearly 70 professionals in Montana’s First Congressional District who provide medical, dental, pharmaceutical, and behavioral services to the state’s Northwest region. The funding will further the center’s mission of building strong, healthy communities through access to quality, affordable patient-centered care.

Today, Congressman Ryan Zinke announced Montana State University will receive a federal grant from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. The purpose of the grant is to support the university’s work identifying heterogenous neuronal responses to HSV-1 infection with drop-based microfluidics.

Today Montana Congressman Ryan Zinke was appointed to the influential House Committee on Appropriations, the committee has authorization over funding – and defunding – the federal government. The committee is vital to the House upholding its constitutional power of the purse and ensuring the spending by agencies follows the will of the People, rather than the discretion of unelected bureaucrats. Positions on the committee are highly competitive and members typically are appointed after two or three terms in the House. Zinke brings with him seniority from his previous tenure in the House and his expertise as a former U.S. Secretary of the Interior.

Today, Montana Congressman Ryan Zinke co-sponsored the Protecting America’s Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) From China Act introduced by Representative McMorris Rodgers (R-WA). This vote places restricting measures on the Secretary of Energy from selling products from the SPR to any entity owned, under the control or influence of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), or to any other entity that intends to export to China.

The First Session of the 118th U.S. Congress commenced on January 3rd, 2023 in Washington, DC.